About Us

In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Saturday, 7 July 2012

Hanbury Junction again and my first photo of a reed Warbler unting.

Late evening sky

By late evening, yesterday, normal water levels had returned, allowing us to take Jade out without getting our feet too wet. No rain over night and only a slight mizzle this morning, very welcome from the torrential downpours we had had all day. After a hearty cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes and fried spuds, ( we only treat ourselves occasionally as Ian has to watch his cholesterol levels ) it set us up nicely for whatever was in store for us today. Arrived back at Hanbury junction and had just moored up when a BW ( sorry C&RT ) chap arrived. First thing he said was the river Severn and Salwarpe was in flood. We knew this as Ian had already looked on waterscape earlier, but he also told us that there were several boats on the Barge canal unable to move because C&RT had locked off the locks leading towards the river. How long they will have to stay there is dependent on the river but, as I'm led to believe by the news for Worcester, the river hasn't peaked yet. Our plan is to go to Worcester next week as Ian has finally got an appointment to see the consultant next Thursday and Enterprise car rentals is within easy reach. We will stay today and possibly tomorrow depending on weather and, even though this is only a 24 hour mooring, C&RT don't expect boaters to have to move while the rivers are in flood.

As for the Reed Warbler, I have spent days listening for their scratchy 'chirp chirp' and hours just trying to get a photo of this very elusive bird. Finally last night from the bedroom window this one perched long enough for me to grab the camera and get these shots.